We still have 90 minutes to go, says Cheng Hoe

KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe maintains confidence in his team ahead of the Asean Cup 2026 semi-final return leg against Vietnam at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, despite their 0-2 defeat in Kuala Lumpur. Cheng Hoe emphasized that the players must give their best in the second leg, acknowledging the difficult atmosphere facing Vietnam's supporters at home.

He stated, "We still have another 90 minutes to go. We didn't lose the war, just that we lost the battle." Cheng Hoe believes a single goal could boost the team's morale, and he is confident Malaysia can challenge Vietnam's strong home support. The Vietnamese team's victory was secured by a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time and an own goal by Muhammad Faris Danish Asrul in the 86th minute.

Cheng Hoe urged the team to focus on improving their final passes, transition play, and decision-making in the opponent's half. Despite the loss, he expressed pride in his players, particularly the inexperienced backline that displayed character against a strong Vietnam side. Cheng Hoe also sees value in the experience gained for younger players like Ahmad Aysar Hadi Mohd Shapri and Ibrahim Manusi.

Meanwhile, Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik expressed dissatisfaction with his team's performance, attributing their first-half preparations as lacking. He remained unconvinced that Vietnam's two-goal lead would lead to an automatic final berth and demanded improvements before the next match in Hanoi. Xuan Son, a Vietnamese player, acknowledged the physically demanding battle against Malaysia's defenders and expressed confidence in handling Malaysia's approach in the upcoming match.